The new Euro-integration minister Davit Bakradze replaces Alexi Petriashvili, who resigned in protest against the dismissal of his ally and Free Democrats leader, Defense Minister Irakli Alasania.

It is a post with responsibility for forming closer ties with NATO and the European Union. One of the most pressing tasks is implementing an extensive free trade agreement with the EU signed in June, which contains commitments to bring hundreds of EU directives into Georgian national legislation.

The new minister has the same name as the former speaker of parliament, but unlike him he is not widely known to public. But the new minister has long experience from working in diplomacy since 2002.

He was head of the European Affairs department at the Foreign Ministry during 2006-2008 during Saakashvili. After that, he became senior advisor to the Georgian embassy in Sweden and Finland, and later temporary trustee of Georgia in Finland.